Confused by car terms? We're here to help you decipher them
What determines an SUV, a crossover, a compact, a heavy-duty, and more?
There are a lot of terms, and sometimes it depends on what the manufacturer decides to call it. We’ll translate the terms to help you determine what it is you want to drive.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
By the numbers
An automaker can call its vehicle pretty much whatever it wants, but there are classifications for fuel economy figures, determined by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan). This lets the agency compare equivalently-sized vehicles for the best or worst fuel economy.
Cars are rated by NRCan by their interior volume, from mini-compact (fewer than 2,405 litres) through subcompact, compact, midsize, and full-size, which is 3,400 litres or larger. Two-seaters and station wagons get their own ratings. SUVs are considered “light trucks,” and so are measured by their gross vehicle weight (its weight plus the maximum weight of passengers and cargo it can carry), as pickup trucks are. They’re divided into just two categories, with “small” SUV at 2,722 kg or lighter; and “standard,” from 2,722 to 4,536 kg. Any SUV heavier than that is exempt from testing.
Turning the wheels
Front-wheel drive, or FWD, means the front wheels are powered. Rear-wheel drive, or RWD, means it’s the back ones.
All-wheel drive (AWD) means power to both axles, as does four-wheel drive (4WD or 4×4), but the difference isn’t always clear. Usually, AWD indicates an automatic system that you don’t have to engage, while you switch a 4WD into four-wheel when needed, such as on a pickup truck. That said, some automakers may label an AWD system as 4WD, especially if they want to make the vehicle sound more off-road rugged. Know which kind you’re getting before you buy.
Door determination
Sporty utility
- Subcompact SUV: Toyota C-HR, Mazda CX-3, Honda HR-V
- Compact SUV: Hyundai Tucson, Nissan Rogue, Ford Escape
- Midsize SUV: Subaru Ascent, Kia Sorento, Lexus RX
- Full-size SUV: Chevrolet Suburan, BMW X7, Mercedes-Benz GLS
A different SUV?
How many rows?
If an SUV is advertised as a three-row, then depending on how the seats are configured, it can hold six, seven, or eight people. “Captain’s chairs” means a second row of two separate seats, rather than a three-passenger bench seat. Most three-row SUVs are midsize or full-size.
The minivan
Their popularity has waned, but minivans are still the best at hauling people and their stuff. All have three rows of seats, and their rear doors slide back, rather than swing out as on an SUV. Minivans include the Toyota Sienna, Honda Odyssey, Chrysler Pacifica and Grand Caravan, and Kia Carnival.
Crossing over
Today, automakers use whichever they prefer. A “crossover” usually just means a smaller SUV, especially if it’s FWD instead of AWD. And then it can be diced even finer, such as “subcompact crossover” or “compact CUV.”
What About Trucks?
Full-size pickup trucks are models like the Ford F-150 or Chevrolet Silverado. Midsize are trucks like the Toyota Tacoma, Honda Ridgeline, or GMC Canyon. The new Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz are considered to be compacts.
Ford, GM, and Ram rate their full-size trucks by weight class. There’s “light-duty,” such as the Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra 1500, or Ram 1500, all popularly known as half-ton. The “heavy-duty” models are 250/2500 (known as three-quarter-ton) and 350/3500 (one-ton). Ford calls these models “Super Duty,” and includes an F-450 as well.
The heavy-duty trucks have more towing and payload capacity, although they’re physically the same size as their corresponding half-ton siblings. The full-size Toyota Tundra comes in a single weight class and is considered light-duty.